BACKGROUND:

Dry conditions are already taking their toll across the Northwest. The Thornhill Fire Department is reminding the public to be careful with drier weather conditions following a grass fire at Jackpine Flats on May 8.

A state of emergency and evacuation was declared east of Fraser Lake following a 100-hectare fire on May 11 that has since spread to 236-hectares. And on May 12, emergency crews battled a four-hectare wildfire near Kitimat.

All are suspected to have been human-caused.

With a long weekend coming, BC Wildfire Service is reminding everyone to keep watch and if they suspect a fire to call it in. On average 40% of wildfires in British Columbia are person-caused.

If the violation causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs, and British Columbia has some of the highest wildfire-related violation ticket fines in Canada.

But are the penalties for human-caused wildfires strict enough?

FULL STORY: Fire crews beat down grass fire in Jackpine Flats